Supporting device for lamps



Sept. 1, 1931. l R, B, M|NER 1,821,763

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR LAM1S Filed July 12. 1929 Fig.

Inventor: Rqy B. M iner;

His Attor'negy iatentecl Sept. i931 d 'E'E *STATES PATENT orrics :BOY B'. MINER, or NAHANT, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoia To GENERAL ELECTRIC CQMPANY, A coaroRArr-ION or NEW YORK' SUP.'POVETIN'G- DEWCE FOR LAMPS Application filed luly 12, 19.29. Serial No. 377,814.

VMy invention relates to ksupporting des vices for electric lamps. Moreparticularly it relates to devices of this character especially adapted for use in connection With light projectors' such as flood lighting devices and the like.

In devices of the kind specifiedy itis ese pecially desirable to have the light sourcel supported by means capable of being read- 105 ily adjusted from the rear of the casing not'V only With respect to a. point as a 'center but' radially with respect tov said center and readily clamped inv the adjusted position` e from the rear of thedevice, and therefore 13j it is an object ofthe invention to provide means' forl accomplishing the foregoing.

The following specification describes the invention indetail,` reference being had to I A the accompanying drawings in 'which Fig.

'2o 1 shows a flood. lighting device provided with the `features of the invention. In this ligure the flood light isy shovvninelevation and partly in section. Fig. 2 shows an enlargedvievv of the supporting means in elevationVv and partly'in section'. y 'y .Referring iir detail tothe drawings it will be seen thatsthe flood light comprises the usualA base 2, casing` 3, and lens 4, the

` latter beingsecured to: the front of the de-' vice. Within the casing there' is located the usual .reflector 5, Which latter is secured to the casing'A in any suitable manner.r vThe reflector is perforated atthe rear along the axis, thereby enabling the light source to be ,Supported inl fiOHt f the reflector through means securedto the casing behind the reflector and in the focal region of the reflector. The supporting .device for the I n light source comprises kla lamp socket 6, a holder T., a collet S, a collar 9, a ball 10, a socket in the form ofa cap 11, a bar nutv12, a shaftl anda knob la. The collet comprises a sleevejprovided with a head at one end' anda threaded portion at the other end 5" and'op'erates as a bearing for the shaft 13,

enabling the shaft to bev rotated on its ovvn axis, andenabling the shaft to be slid longitudinally along its'yovvn aXis. As shown T inthe drawing the lsection 16 ofthe `casing' T around the longitudinalz aXis 1s spherical,

the inner surface being concave and the enter surface being convex. The concave side serves as a seat for the ball. 1() and theconvex sideserves as a seat for the capk or socket 11'. As shown in Fig. 2 the cap 11, the bar nut 412 and the knob. 14 are lo= cated on one side of thecasing,` While the lamp socket 6, the holder 7, theY collarl 9 and the ball'l() are on the opposite side', e that is, on the inside ofthe, casing. Itvvill y e seen that the shaft 13 extends through the nut 12, the capv 11, spherical sectionlf of the casing, ball 10 and collar 9, and has secured to its innerendl the holder 7,' as for'V example, by means of a Cotter pin 18.v On e5y the outer end of the shaft is secured a knob, 14, by means of a set screw 17. The colletj as yshown is threaded at the'rear end' andv the bar nut is also threaded to receive the threaded portion of the collet. The. collet '10v onits inner end is slotted as indicated byk the slot 15. Thev collar 9 is centrally per-Y forated and the perforation is tapered to receive they tapered neck lof the collet as shown. Furthermore, the collar 9 fitslover 75 the ball `10f as indicated. lVhilethe. collar and ball are shown' asA two separate pieces they may be formedfasa' unit perforated. to receive the collet 8*.; It vvill: be 'seen' thatv by turning the nut 12 in one direction' the collar 9 and the ball l0 are drawnnby the collet toward socket 11', clamping the spherical section'lG ofthe casing'betweenthem. This is one function of; the collet. yThe' saine operation obviously compresses'the 85 section of the collet on the opposite sides of the slot 15, thus clamping the shaft in* any adjusted position withv respect to the collet and thereforewith respect to the cas-, ing and With respect to the` reflector. Thisk is the second function of the collet. lThat is, it not only locks the'fshaft against longitudinal or rotary motion with respect toits own airis, butit `also locks the ball .10 against,v rotation about its center andconsequently locks the shaft .against rotation about the 'Y samefcenter. i

1f an` adjustment ofthe light source' isV desired thev nut: 1112 is turned in the opposite` direction, thereby` releasing the collet and 00 consequently releasing the elements previously clamped. It is then possible by movingthe shaft longitudinally or by rotating it about its longitudinal axis or by rotating the ball 10 through the medium of the shaft and its knob 14:, or by performing all of theseY operations, to adjust the filament of the light source in anyV position about the focal point of the refiector 5, in which position the light source may be readily locked by turning the nut l2 in the opposite direction thus clamping the shaft to the collet, the collet to the ball and socket and the ball and socket to the casing.

As shown in the drawing, current may be conveyed to the lamp by means of conductors 19, which pass through any suitable opening in the casing and which may be carried thereto, for example, in a cable 20,

`there being suitable clamping and sealing "means 21 around'rthe cable to prevent the entrance of foreign matter into the casing.

While I have shown in the drawing one form of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to one form,

yinasmuch as variations within the scope of the claims and the spirit of the invention which may be suggested from the disclosure to those versed in the art are contemplated.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States for adjustably securingV said light source to 1. In a light projector comprising a casing, a refiector and a light source located 1n the focal region of said reflector, means said casing, said means comprising a collet and a shaft extending through said collet, said collet operating as a bearing to permit the shaft under certain conditions i to be rotated about its longitudinal axis and to be slid in the collet along the length of saidaxis, and clamping means for operating the collet to Vclamp the shaft to said collet and for clamping the collet to the casing, said means comprising a ball and socket device in operative engagement with the casing, a head for the collet at one end and a nut in operative engagement with the collet beyond said head, said ball and socket "being located between said nut and head for clamping the shaft to the collet and the collet to the casing.

2. In a light projector comprising a casing, a reiiector and a light source located in the focal region of said reflector, means for adjustably securing said light source to said casing, said means comprising a collet and a shaft extending through said i collet, said ycollet operating as a bearing to permit the shaft under certain conditions to be rotated about Vits longitudinal axis and to be slid in the collet along the length of said axis, and clamping means for operatingi the collet to clamp the shaft to said collet and for clamping the collet to the casing, said means comprising a ball and socket device in operative engagement with the casing, said collet extending through said ball, socket: and casing, a head forsaid collet on one side of said balleand socket elements, a nut inY threaded engagement withthe collet on the other side of said; elements for drawing said ball and socket into operative engagement with said casing, er

3. In a light projector comprising a casing and a light source, supporting means for said source comprising a spherical sec tion in said casing, a ball on one side of said section and a socket on the opposite side thereof, and means for clamping said spherical section between said ball and socket, said means comprising a collet extending through said ball, socket and spherical section, said collet having a head at one end and a nut at the other, said ball and socket being located between said head and nut and adapted to be clamped together therebetween when said nut is turned, and a shaft extending through said collet with one end outside of the casing and with one end inside of the casing, and a light source mounted on said shaft inside the casing, said shaft being adapted to be clamped to said collet when said nut is turned to clamp said ball and socket.

4l. In a light projector comprising a casing, a refiector and a light source locatedA in the focal region of said reflector, means for adjustably securing said light source to said casing, said means comprising a collet and a shaft extending through said collet, said collet operating as a bearing to permit the shaft under certain conditions to be rotated about its longitudinal axis and to be slid in the collet along the length of said axis, and clamping means for operating the collet to clamp the shaft to said collet and for clamping the collet to the casing, said clamping means comprising a member having a tapered opening through which said collet passes and means for causing engagement of said collet by said member.

5. The combination with a casing having an opening, of means for adjustably mounting a lamp on the casing comprising a shaft which projects through said. opening for supporting the lamp, a sleeve on the shaft which forms a bearing for the shaft, said sleeveprojecting through said opening and being provided with threads at its outer end, walls surrounding the sleeve on opposite sides of the casing and between which the casing is clamped, means carried by one of said walls for effecting clamping of the inner end of said sleeve on the shaft, and a nut on the threaded end of the sleeve for clamping said walls against the casing and the sleeve on the shaft.

6. The oombination With a casing having a spherical section provided with an opening, of means for adjustably mounting a lamp on' the casing, comprising a shaft which projects through said opening for supporting the lamp, a sleeve on the shaft whichy forms a bearing for the shaft, said sleeve projecting through said opening and being provided With threads at kits outer end, Walls of spherical section surrounding the sleeve on opposite sides of the spherical section of the casing and between which such portion of the casing is clamped, means carried by one of said Walls for effecting Clamping of the inner end of said sleeve on the shaft, and a nut on the threadedtend of the sleeve for clamping said Walls against the easing and the sleeve on the shaft.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of July, 1929.

ROY B. MIN ER. 

